Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Meth Addiction

Read this Web-Exclusive Book Review by Jesse Kornbluth.

Most meth is cooked in clandestine labs, but it should be fairly simple to stop that part of this epidemic caused by pharmaceutical meth. As Sheff notes, only nine factories make most of the world’s legal supply. They resist what they consider excessive government control. And the highly touted, hugely expensive “war on drugs” only seems to include meth at the local level. In 2006, Sheff reports, 500 local police officials across America described meth as their number one problem. The Bush administration’s Office of National Drug Policy downplayed that survey.

No doubt the White House had a reason. But when it comes to the actual drug, reasons are in short supply. It’s a crapshoot: who lives, who dies. Nic? He’s better. For now. If you are a parent or grandparent—or are just concerned about children—you too will feel better at the end of Beautiful Boy. How could you not? You’ve been to hell and back.

Jesse Kornbluth is the editor of HeadButler.com, a cultural concierge service that recommends books, movies, and music. He has published seven books and has written for many major magazines.